1. Review with students

2. Step 1 – Deconstructing the Prompt What are you being asked to write?
Pass out the prompts and highlighters

3. Show What you Know… Deconstructing the Prompt
What is PURPOSE?
Purpose = What is your reason for writing the essay? What is your goal?
What is FOCUS?
Focus = What are you writing about…what is the topic?

4. Example Prompt #1
Write an informational essay on how language and communication have changed over time. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set.
What is the purpose?
What is the focus?

5. #1
Write an informational essay about the effects the Great Depression had on the people who lived through it. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set.
What is the purpose?
What is the focus?

6. #2
Write an informational essay that explains how hurricanes and tornadoes are alike and different. Your essay must be based on the ideas, concepts, and information contained in the passage set.
What is the purpose?
What is the focus?

7. #3
Write an informational essay on how transportation has changed over time. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set.
What is the purpose?
What is the focus?

8. #4
Your social studies class is researching both traditional and unexpected heroes. Using the information and examples found in the “Courage and Heroism” passage set, write an informative essay on what it means to be courageous.
What is the purpose?
What is the focus?

9. Step 2 – Planning for Success Keep it Organized!

10. Why should you plan? Why should you plan?
Once students have broken down the prompt, they can decide how to set up their planning sheet.
9th & 10th Grade – To be successful, use both sides of your planning sheet – one side for gathering evidence and one side for essay structure.
With 120 minutes, spend more time planning! There is not the same time crunch.

11. Demands of the Writing Prompt/Task
Informative
Argumentative
Providing new knowledge/clarifying
Defining
Explaining a process – sequence
Explaining how something has changed over time
Comparing or contrasting different people/places/things
Detailing components - describing
Offering an explanation of a problem and possible solutions
Explaining causes and their effects
Formulating a claim
Arguing for a position
Acknowledging and refuting a counterclaim

12. Informative/Argumentative Writing Purpose, Focus and Organization
Domains
Domain:
Informative/Argumentative Writing
Purpose, Focus and Organization
How vs. What is said – includes the process of writing
Is it organized? Clear beginning, middle & end?
Does it flow? Are there signs to indicate this?
This is the “bones” of the skeleton

13. Informative/Argumentative Writing Evidence and Elaboration
Domains
Domain:
Informative/Argumentative Writing
Evidence and Elaboration
What vs. How it’s said
Things to consider:
integration of source material – does the writer make it their own?
facts & details – what is the depth of their elaboration?
vocabulary – strong word choice vs. simple words
quality & quantity of support
sentence complexity

14. Example Prompt #1
Write an informational essay on how language and communication have changed over time. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set.
What is the purpose?
What is the focus?
Structure - Sequence

15. Example Prompt
Write an informational essay about the effects the Great Depression had on the people who lived through it. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set.
What is the purpose?
What is the focus?
Structure – Cause & Effect

18. Example Prompt
Write an informational essay that explains how hurricanes and tornadoes are alike and different. Your essay must be based on the ideas, concepts, and information contained in the passage set.
What is the purpose?
What is the focus?
Structure – Compare & Contrast

20. Example Prompt
Write an informational essay on how transportation has changed over time. Your essay must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set.
What is the purpose?
What is the focus?
Structure - Sequence

22. Example Prompt
You have been asked to write an informational article on Machu Picchu for a website that focuses on travel to places of historical interest. Write an article that explains to tourists the significance of Machu Picchu as a travel destination.
What is the purpose?
What is the focus?
Structure - Descriptive

23. Visiting Machu Picchu

24. Let’s Try it!
One side for PFO
One side for E & E

25. What to look for…